domingo, 18 de julho de 2010

It has started an online petition in hope to follow the success of JAXA’s aluminum plates and 3/9 Live Concert HD DVD-BluRay online petitions.

The goal is trying to collect 10,000 signatures for Project Diva World Concert Tour, and going to submit the signatures to Sega in hope to have Project Diva Concert, just like the one in last March, in selected countries.

To help in the signing of the petition, go to this blog or directly to the comment box here or simply click on the first blog post to add in your signature there.

According to the August issue of Gemaga magazine, there will be a special collaboration between the PSP titles, "Hatsune Miku Project DIVA 2nd" and "Idolmaster SP"!

Cover of Gemaga (August issue)

It appears that Sega will offer Idolmaster SP music and costumes for the Project DIVA 2nd game via DLC on the Japanese Playstation Network. This will include the Idolmaster SP Costumes (Primary Star Plum):

Another promotional video of "Hatsune Miku -Project DIVA- 2nd" was released earlier today showing off 3 new songs and a look at the different difficulty modes."When the First Love Ends" by ryo, "Finder (DSLR remix‐re:edit)" by kz, and "The Singing Passion of Hatsune Miku" by cosMo are among the new rhythm tracks ready for you to challenge. The game will be released out July 29th.

Just earlier Internet Co. Ltd. has revealed more information on Vocaloid Lily, in which the illustration art was done by KEI, the same person who did the design for Vocaloid Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin/Len and Megurine Luka. She will be voiced by Masuda Yuri, who’s the vocalist for the band m.o.v.e.. For those interested you can listen to samples of m.o.v.e.’s music over on MySpace.

Lily’s recommended tempo would be between 90 BPM ~ 180 BPM while her recommended range is between D2 ~ D4. She will be scheduled to be released on August 25th 2010 at a price of 15,750 yen ($177.80 or 140.22€).

Mikatan has recently updated her blog with new screenshots from the upcoming “Black★Rock Shooter Anime 50-Minute OVA” which was taken at a BRS event lately. The DVD will come as a free bundle with the September issue of Hobby Japan (release date – July 24th 2010), Megami (July 30th 2010), and Animedia (August 10th 2010) magazines, in which AmiAmi is taking reservations for the magazines currently.

It's election time in Japan, which means thousands of commercials of politicians trying to persuade people to vote for them and their policies. Like using Miku Hatsune, for example.

The DNP party's running candidate, Kenzou Fujisue, originally tried getting rights to Miku's image as well, at first. However, Crypton outright denied the DNP party rights to her image. That didn't stop them, however. While it is illegal to use Miku as a character for commercial purposes, her voice is just like an instrument and can be used commercially.

Now, some of you may be thinking that, "Yay! Vocaloid is taking over the world! >D" This is not so. The response to the ad was overall negative, with an astounding 76 dislikes to 5 likes on the youtube video, and that's just on Youtube alone.

A few of the commentors have gone so far as to call it "disgusting" how Kenzou Fujisue and the DNP party are using Miku to "further their agenda." Originally using Miku was an attempt at reaching out to the younger generation, sources say. However, this seems to have only made them more distant.

Q: How did you come up with Miku's look? Was it your own decision or was it based on specifications from here makers?A: There were no requests regarding her hair or clothing. All I received was "she's an android" along with some specs for her color design and certain auxiliary parts. Miku was given a particular YAMAHA synthesizer's signature blue-green color and some of the same synthesizer motifs on her clothing. For example ~ the print on her skirt is actually based on a panel from the real synthesizer.

Q: It seems cosplayers who want to dress up as Hatsune Miku could learn a lot by checking out some synthesizers. Was it your idea to incorporate things like that?A: No, I know next to nothing about synthesizers. So I had to have the makers point me in the right direction and correct my initial sketches. For example: after I showed them my roughs for Kagamine Len, they suggested he have and M-D cable (a part used to connect instruments and equipment)... so I added one to his right leg.

Q: Come to think of it, the Kagamine twins' leg covers have really specialized designs too. Are those based on music equipment as well?A: The two of them are also based on a YAMAHA synthesizer. Even their theme color comes from a synthesizer. That's why the details on their leg covers aren't the same for both legs. The synthesizer's they're based on have speakers on only one side. Rin's details are on her left leg and Len's are on his right. I lined them up in designs to that Rin would show her left leg and Len, his right.

Q: I see. It's a natural idea for twin characters, huh?A: I didn't actually intend for them to be twins. I was told that they're more like mirrors. It's just that when I designed them, I did it at exactly the same time. No sooner was Rin finished than I'd started drawing roughs of Len.

Q: Was there anything else you were requested to incorporate into the VOCALOIDs' designs?A: Well, I was given their approximate ages. But I got them along with the information that they were also androids. I'm not sure if androids even age, so I tried to design characters whose personalities and ages aren't immediately obvious from their images alone.

Q: So, you're saying the "android" factor weighs most heavily in your designs?A: Yeah, I guess so. When I first got Miku's specs, my immediate image of her involved headphones that would cover her eats and give her a more robotic look. I also wanted her to look even more mechanical than she does now. But over time, I toned it down a bit...

Q: What material did you intend for Miku's arm covers to be made from? Are they plastic? Metal?A: I have no idea. The material for the arm covers is unspecified, but it allows the characters to move freely.

Q: If they're androids, do they have other robotic parts?A: Well, I suppose you could say Hatsune Miku's hair ribbons are like that. I actually designed them to be free-floating. It could even be the case that her ribbons themselves turn with the tempo of the music (laughs).

Q: Those are the sort of props that make cosplayers break into tears (laughs). Though the characters are all androids, they have a very human cuteness about them, I think. Was it difficult for you to draw so many detailed parts for them?A: I have my own less-complicated version of them in my head which are much easier to draw, but when it comes to the official designs, it's really no trouble. Though I have to say, sometimes drawing those belts can be a bit of a pain in the ass (laughs).

Q: Is there anything you're particularly detailed about when it comes to your artwork?A: Wrinkles in clothing and lighting. Most of my illustrations involve gothic-lolita fashion, so I'm really careful with wrinkles and creases. Beyond that, lately I really love drawing Miku's twintails! Actually, I had originally intended fr a different hairstyle completely, but I tried out the twintails first on a whim and there was no turning back. At the same time, I decided to add the "01" to her arm and the arm panel detailing.

Q: Miku, Rin and Luka all have numbers on their shoulders along with their names, right? Does Len have the same tattoo or not?A: He does. You can't see it because of his sleeve, but he has it on his left arm just like Rin. Also, if you look at my SD illustrations of the characters, you'll see that the thing slung over his shoulder in the official designs is a shoulder keyboard.

Q: How did the design for Megurine Luka come about?A: Well the order came in for a 20 year-old, bilingual female voiced by Yuu Asakawa. Her voice was husky and a little airy and she had been programmed to handle moodier genres like jazz. The image I initially had of her was of a more mature Oriental-styled woman in a traditional Chinese dress. The other impression I got was one of asymmetry (imbalance between right and left). Since she can sing in both Japanese and English, I wanted the impression of her look to be slightly different when viewed from different angles to capture that visually. I'm often asked about her eyes. I wanted them to be more mysterious and unreadable than Miku, Rin and Len's.

Q: Is there an equipment or instrumental basis for Luka's design too?A: Just like Miku, Rin and Len, she has a YAMAHA equipment motif, but she also incorporates brass and woodwind instruments. Her own synthesizer motif involves wood-paneling that mutes the cyber-look a bit, so I think her design is a bit less "robotic" than the others.

Q: What about the jewel she wears at her throat?A: It's tied to the instrument motif. I put a woodwind instrument motif along the slit in her skirt. Luka's whole concept is based on the idea of a "breathy voice". Knowing that, I developed the image of air moving through her like an instrument. The jewel adds moisture to the air passing through her throat.

Q: Of all of the different themes incorporated into Luka's design, which did you focus on the most?A: The impression of brass. I didn't need to create the same metallic impression with Miku, Rin and Len, but with Luka, I had to worry about creating the impression of real brass. I tried to make her costume add balance to the whole character vocal series.

Q: So, which character in the series is your favorite?A: I love them all, but I suppose the first, Hatsune Miku, will always have an extra-special place in my heart. As for the software, I don't really use any of them, so I can't say.

Q: Finally, do you have any message for your fans?A: Please take good care of Luka and keep on using Miku, Rin and Len!

The fashionable yet mysterious Vocaloid, with a husky voice. From the popular “Character Vocal Series” comes yet another figma, Luka Megurine!

* Using the smooth yet poseable joints of figma, you can act out various scenes. * A flexible plastic is used for specific areas, allowing proportions to be kept, without compromising posability. * Luka’s standard face, as well as a singing face ideal for a Vocaloid are both included as facial expressions. * Various extras are included, such as the well-known tuna fish “Ooma-san”, as well as a new classic mike to sing into. * Careful attention to detail has left Luka just as stunning as she should be, including the metallically colored parts of her outfit. * A poseable figma stand is included, which allows various poses to be taken.

There will be a first-run limited edition bonus which will include a special case and picture label and the BD/DVD itself will include 39’s Giving Day mobile strap as well as a mobile cleaner which was originally sold at the event.

A special website has been set up for this and you can access it HERE. The BD, DVD and CD versions of the concert will be released on September 1st, 2010. AmiAmi is taking reservations for the BD and CD version of the concert currently.